Steel beam from the World Trade Center stands as a memorial in Richardsville

After the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, several grants across the country have gone to various emergency agencies to help upgrade equipment and aid in training.

"Rural and state and local entities have worked extremely well together and it wasn't bad before 9/11 but it strengthened those bonds," said Ronnie Pearson, the director of Warren County Emergency Management.

Pearson said 17 years ago on September 11, he had taken the day off work, but once he woke up and saw on television where the first tower had been hit, his phone started ringing off the hook.

"We're all Americans, and it affected everybody that day," he said.

Pearson went on to describe the various meetings he had that day with local officials, all preparing for any possible disaster in our area, as well as trying to find ways to help the rest of the country.

"From our perspective -- from the emergency side -- with all the emergency service agencies, is making sure we have everything in place to protect the individuals here in Bowling Green and Warren County, but also what we could do to reach out across state lines and borders to help those individuals that were in need that particular day," he said.

Through the years, the memory of 9/11 has continued to impact the entire country, including first responders.

"Training and equipment has improved, relationships with the health services, the hospitals, the coroner's office, emergency management. We have a coalition that meets monthly to talk about large scale events of many kinds," Pearson said. "Really, the key component is we've strengthened bonds amongst the responders to help take care of people."

In addition to the training practices implemented across the country and here locally, a 9/11 memorial stands in Warren County, honoring those who lost their lives 17 years ago.

"It's a solemn memorial, it's to remember those over 400 first responders. A majority of those were firefighters who lost their lives that day. We never want to forget that day," said Pat Stewart, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department.

The memorial features a steel beam, which came from the World Trade Center. It rests on several layers of bricks engraved with the number of firefighters, medical personnel, and civilians killed in the attacks.

"I think 9/11 changed everybody," said Stewart.

He said the memorial is open to the public at any time. It's surrounded by lights, three flags, and benches decorated in stars and stripes. It sits outside of the Richardsville Volunteer Fire Department Station 1.